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The Importance of Lighting When Filming Or In Photography

If you are anything like me, you know that taking a photo is fraught with problems. In fact, most of us spend some times primping, just so that our photos and videos turn out perfect. Your effort does count but you should know that lighting plays an important role in making your photos beautiful. Yes, you may have used the best makeup, got stage lighting hire, and you might be wearing designer clothing, but a single shoddy light and all your effort will go down the drain.

The effects of lighting on photos and videos

Take a quick look at any photographer's portfolio and you will notice an immediate difference between good and beautiful photos. In fact, the biggest difference in photos occurs due to poor lighting and arrangement. Good lighting should control the mood of your photo or video. It should also direct the viewers eye to a particular area and emphasize or de-emphasize areas in the photo. If the work is done properly, the photo has texture, color, and it can definitely make you look beautiful, ugly, fat, thin....or anything you want. If you are new to photography but want your photos to come out good every time, here are a few things you should know.

Standard set-ups -- The most common lighting arrangement consists of a three-point setup consisting of a key light, a fill light, and a backlight. The three lights are arranged in order of importance but the key light is the most important as it accentuates features and the backlight is the least important.

Use the sunlight -- Never photograph with the sun behind the subject. This is not a good idea and very difficult to use in photography. Use the sunlight and combine it with lighting to create the best features.

Effects -- Effects are great but they do create different features and effects. It's a good idea to try ordinary lighting and then move on to effects. Make sure you check the photos before you create prints. Please note that not every effect will suit every face structure or location. For example, people are used to lighting coming from the top or from the sides. Placing a lighting on the ground and directed to the face can create uneven expressions on a person's face.

Broad lights and narrow lights -- Broad lights are usually preferred as they produce a soft light that suits nearly every face and feature. Narrow lights on the other hand create shadows and they are not really recommended for photography. However, you can combine both to create unique lighting effects.

Now that you know just how much lighting is required in photography, take the time to sit down and discuss your needs with the photographer. The video lighting techniques you choose will definitely influence the photos or videos produced by the technician. A professional will be more than happy to explain the basics to you and they will definitely make sure that you get the best photos possible for your requirements.